Nagambie batters Kayla Shepherd (left) and Breanna Davison discuss their plan of attack.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
It’s been a masterclass three-innings stretch for Nagambie’s Kayla Shepherd, but her latest effort at the crease far exceeds the rest.
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The Lakers’ skipper etched her name into club history with her second career ton, peeling off 100 of 47 deliveries against Shepparton Youth Club United in Sunday’s Cricket Shepparton Women’s action at McGregor Oval.
The historic knock laid the groundwork for Nagambie’s 116-run win in round five and cemented Shepherd as the fledgling competition’s first centurion, as well as the first Nagambie senior women’s player to cross the triple-figure rubicon since the teams' inception in 2023.
Remarkably, the 17-boundary blitzkrieg came one day after blasting a swashbuckling half-century for Northern Rivers in the senior women’s victorious VCCL interleague series.
Shepherd, alongside fellow Laker and Northern Rivers skipper Madison Albers, hit 50 off 33 balls against Gippsland, capping off an impressive two weeks with the willow that kicked off with a half-century against Mooroopna the week previously.
Shepherd has accumulated 206 unbeaten runs off only 122 deliveries in the eight-day stretch—a blistering strike rate of 169—crediting an enjoyable team environment for the recent purple patch, as her Lakers sit undefeated at 4-0.
“I think it all comes from just enjoying cricket,” Shepherd said.
“The team I'm a part of helps with that a lot, everyone wants to learn and everyone wants to do better.
“It was very much a teaching game too - I spoke on the importance of those quick singles and not just the quick singles, ones can turn into twos and twos into threes, even on a short oval.
“I was pretty happy with it but I think it was a really good teaching opportunity for everyone else too.”
And for the players who believe a new bat can deliver more runs, there may be hope yet.
Already one of the competition’s most damaging batters, Shepherd’s game went up a notch with her latest addition to the kit bag, a replacement of a fond piece of weathered wood Shepherd has carried for well over a decade.
“I've had the same bat since I was 12, and my husband (Jason) said I need a new one,” she said.
“I'd swing so hard and I was getting vibrations up my arm.
“I was like ‘no, I just don't like change and I can't do it.’
“He took me to the Sports Power in Shepp, we just went in there and the first one I picked up was a GM and the weight on it was a bit heavier than mine.
“I really liked it compared to others, so I just took it and it has been a massive difference.
“It’s definitely helped, so credit to Jason.”
Shepherd raised the new willow in celebration during the 14th over as Nagambie posted 4-190, while at the other end Madison Albers carved out a career-best 54 not out, fresh from claiming five wickets for Northern Rivers and maintaining an unblemished 2-0 captaincy record.
Dianne Poole (26 not out) and Phoebe Hawker (17 not out) spearheaded the chase for SYCU, though the home side ran out of time in their 20 overs, finishing 1-74.
Meanwhile at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, the Cats pounced for a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Kyabram.
Mooroopna’s bowlers restricted the Redbacks to 7-48, with Tamsyn Hutchins 2-2 and wickets each to Lucy Di Fede, Nonie Shipston, Ebony Sleeth, and Maggie Egglestone reflecting a frugal attack.
Cathy Dervish top-scored for Kyabram with 13 runs, with Lacy Parsons and Grace Hammond striking early with the ball to give the visitors some hope.
Gemma Boyd had other ideas, flaying 32 not out off 22 deliveries to help the Cats chase down the total in six overs.
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